In Focus, In Charge

Blinders Fit Cowboys Coach

Johnson is a Super Bowl rookie himself, but he prepared by seeking counsel from Don Shula, Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells.

Johnson's friendship was a main factor in Wannstedt's decision to choose the Bears over the Giants. Wannstedt intends to seek counsel.

"Initially, it wasn't that big a factor," Wannstedt said. "You want the opportunity to be a head coach and that's all. Then when it looks like you might have the opportunity, you sit back and ask, `What's really important about this job?' "

Had Wannstedt joined the Giants, his relationship with Johnson would have "deteriorated," Johnson said, because the two would have faced each other twice a year in the NFC East Division.

"I'm 40 and I've spent half my life working with the guy," Wannstedt said. "If I had to (go to New York), I would have. But I knew I was uneasy about it as time went on."

Johnson's focus is something Wannstedt will remember. As a more conventional family man, Wannstedt also will take these memories:

"People say he's standoffish and all that. He's the same person now as he was when he was an assistant in 1976. He was a private guy then. Only has a handful of close friends. There's no getting him to go to a party. But I remember when his son (Brent) got accepted to law school at the University of Texas, that was truly all he talked about all week long.

"And when we moved to Dallas, I moved into an area that doesn't have cable. We were 0-7 and he called me on his car phone on the way home. Stops over to have a beer. The TV comes on with rabbit ears. He says, `What's with this TV?' Next day, my wife Jan calls and tells me there's a satellite truck in front delivering a dish and a note: `I don't want your two girls watching TV like that.' "

It was probably out of focus.

"I can tell you this," Johnson said. "I'm very, very happy with Jimmy Johnson. I really like him a lot. And not in a way of being boastful and arrogant, but in a way I'm happy with my situation in life. I enjoy winning football games."